CAIRO: Egypt’s military leadership Saturday vowed to oversee a "peaceful transition" to democracy and pledged its commitment to all international treaties, a day after Mr Hosni Mubarak bowed out as President in the wake of an unprecedented uprising against his 30-year rule.

CAIRO: Mr Hosni Mubarak, who ruled Egypt with an iron hand for over three decades, stepped down as the President Friday and handed over power to the army capitulating under mass protests sweeping the country’s streets for the last 18 days.

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The tense stand off between the US and Pakistan intensified today as the Lahore police charged American official Raymond Davis of “cold-blooded” murder, ignoring pressure from Washington for his immediate release.

PREAH VIHEAR, CAMBODIA: High on a cliff overlooking the jungles of northern Cambodia, heavily armed troops crouch in fortified bunkers on the grounds of an ancient temple turned modern-day battlefield.

CAIRO: Egypt’s powerful military Thursday night said it has started taking “necessary measures to protect the nation” and support the “legitimate demands” of the people, amid reports that embattled President, Mr Hosni Mubarak may step down soon and transfer power to his deputy, Mr Omar Suleiman.

KATHMANDU: The political crisis dogging Nepal for seven months intensified on Thursday with the new Prime Minister, Mr Jhala Nath Khanal forced to swear in a three-member cabinet as his allies, the Maoists, refused to join the government, just a week after they had helped the communist leader come to power.

TORONTO: Canada’s French-speaking Quebec province’s legislature has unanimously voted to ban the ‘kirpan’ from assembly premises, weeks after four Sikhs were denied entry for a parliamentary hearing for refusing to surrender their ceremonial daggers.

THIMPHU: India and Pakistan appear set to resume their stalled dialogue after a near-freeze of several months with the External Affairs Minister, Mr S M Krishna announcing Monday that “a solid foundation” has been laid for a “sustained engagement.”

ISLAMABAD: The controversy over the killing of two Pakistanis by a US consulate employee in Lahore took a new turn today with a media report stating that the dead men were believed to be “intelligence operatives”.